Here are the latest news from Barcelona ahead of the summer transfer window
De Jong to Manchester United 95 percent done
In a shocking turn of events for Barcelona fans, Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong is on his way to Manchester United ahead of the new season.
This is according to Spanish transfer journalist Gerard Romero, who claims that Barcelona and Manchester United are 95 percent close to finalising an €80 million deal for the 24-year-old.
The links to Man United have been in the media since last summer and became louder in the media when Erik ten Hag was announced as the new manager of the Premier League side.
Both of them worked together at Ajax Amsterdam for two seasons before De Jong moved to Barcelona in 2019. Ten Hag is coming to clear out the current Man United squad and rebuild from scratch.
Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard are leaving at the end of the season which puts the club in a tight spot regarding midfielders. De Jong is going to be one of a number of new signings who ten Hag will use as the foundation of his new team.
Fans have expressed displeasure on social media over the sale, but Romero noted that it is purely an economic decision from the club, who are still dealing with a big financial fallout from the mismanagement of Josep Maria Bartomeu’s administration and the economic implications of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Barcelona reach agreement with Aston Villa over Coutinho sale
The long protracted transfer saga of Philippe Coutinho is close to being over according to reports from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.
Barcelona had given the Villans an ultimatum until the end of May to make a decision on the midfielder’s transfer after they clearly stated that they want to keep him in the team.
The Catalan club had slapped a cut-price €40 million tag on him as they sought a way to get his wages off their books. Earlier this week, it was reported that Villa were looking to sign the Brazilian for under €25 million.
Now, Romano is claiming that the deal is almost sealed and that Villa could be paying €20 million for the 29-year-old, who is enjoying life at the Midlands club under his former teammate.
Raheem Sterling chase re-ignited
Reports claim that Barcelona have thrown their hat back in the ring for Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, who has been linked to the squad for more than a season.
Man City signed Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez as attacking backups and it was reported earlier that the club, who were keen on keeping him, had told him that the door was open for his exit if he wanted.
Barcelona have seen an opportunity to go back in for the 27-year-old according to Foot Mercato but it is unclear what the economic implications of the deal will be.
Barcelona could also be bringing Gabriel Jesus to Camp Nou along with Sterling, all thanks to Haaland’s signing. If they pull both signings off, the LaLiga giants would have signed four players from the Premier League’s most successful side in the past decade in just two windows.
